You really shouldn’t use WhatsApp modifications

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If you want to enhance your WhatsApp experience with some unofficial features, you may be tempted to try a modification. These versions of the app may offer chat options and customizable user interfaces that WhatsApp cannot provide. Although the deal may sound good, we recommend that you do not use it.

It is important to understand that WhatsApp modifications are not normal applications. You won’t find them in the Play Store because they’re not allowed to. Instead, it is necessary lateral load the device software before you start using it.

Play Store makes a difference

When you download an app like WhatsApp from the Play Store, you know that the software got a certain level of security clearance. Although the system is not perfect, and bad applications do they head to the store, Google doesn’t just sell any random apps to its users.

There too has added security measures when downloading a Play Store app. Google does a security check on the app itself as well as on your device. to make sure there are no harmful applications in your library. It’s also clear in advance what permissions an app will ask for on your device, so you know immediately if an app wants you to be more than an open book than you could to be comfortable with.

Side-loaded applications do not need to perform any of these security steps unless they are tied to a trusted source. While it’s a good way to run programs outside of the Google Play Store, the practice carries an inherent risk.

WhatsApp modifications are not secure malware spreaders

Worse, this is not a hypothetical risk, as it is supposed to be laterally loading certain applications. WhatsApp modifications are known targets of malware and fraud. Take FMWhatsApp, for example; this mod of WhatsApp was recently discovered spreading the mobile Trojan Triada, infecting devices with code that can read SMS, open ads, and start subscriptions.

Speaking of reading SMS, WhatsApp modifications are not end-to-end encryption. This means that your messages are not protected by the same security measures you normally get with WhatsApp, exposing your conversations to third parties. While one of FMWhatsApp’s selling points is to add security and privacy, those points seem to oppose this narrative.

You may lose your account for using WhatsApp modifications

Nor do you just risk your privacy by using one of these application modifications; you are risking the whole account. Believe it or not, WhatsApp is not a big fan of these modifications and has banned users in the past by using them.

The short answer? WhatsApp modifications are simply not safe to use. While the customization these modifications offer is appealing, it is not it’s worth risking your privacy (and account). If you want new WhatsApp features before the rest of the people, it is much better to download the latest beta from a trusted site like Mirror APK.

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